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Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 1
Project 1: Evaluation of Northern
Bobwhites in Western Oklahoma
ODWC has partnered with
Oklahoma State University’s
Department of Natural Resource
Ecology and Management and the
Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit to conduct
a long term study on Beaver River
and Packsaddle WMA’s. Research
will focus on the unaccounted
disappearance of birds during the
fall shuffle period, how to manage
early successional habitat to boost
chick survival, and how weather
influences reproductive success
and bobwhite survival in western
Oklahoma. The multi-part study
will revolve around four primary
approaches:
Habitat and Population Dynamics:
Adult quail and chicks will be fitted
with transmitters to determine
which factors affect habitat use,
production/recruitment and
survival of bobwhites during the
year. In addition to telemetry work,
habitat work will be monitored for
changes in the plant community
and biological information will be
collected from hunter-harvested
birds. Researchers hope to predict
quail population responses to
drought and evaluate the role of
temperature in nest initiation and
bobwhite survival.
Arthropod Availability and
Preference: Telemetry work from
the above-mentioned studies will
be used along with arthropod
sampling to determine how
nest location and chick survival
are linked
to insect
abundance.
Invertebrate
samples will
be taken from
areas quail
frequent,
known nesting
sites and
areas where
foraging is not
occurring.
Your Side of the fence Winter 2011 A Publication of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Volume 11, Number 3
Even with
the luxury
of managing
a species
researched for
over 80 years—
Herbert
Stoddard
wrote the book on bobwhite
quail in 1931—biologists still
face some uncertainty when
accounting for the fickleness of
quail populations. Ultimately,
assessments are based on
scientific research and hard-earned
experiences. However,
successful management is based
on equal parts skill, weather and
luck.
Though some aspects of quail
management are well-known —
populations change annually and
are influenced by weather events,
predation and widespread, often
subtle, habitat changes—the scale
at which these factors impact the
population and how they relate to
the range-wide decline are unclear.
In an effort to better understand
what drives quail populations,
the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
teamed up with several partners
and has committed to two long-term
research projects in western
Oklahoma.
ODWC invests in bobwhite quail research
By Jena Donnell, quail habitat biologist
Continued on page 2...
Donnell removing a bobwhite quail from a trap at
Hackberry Flat WMA. Photo by Matt Fullerton.
Juvenile bobwhite quail
being released at Black
Kettle WMA after being
processed for weight,
gender, age and parasites.
OSU will study their diet.
Photo by Jena Donnell.
􀀓􀀁 􀀺􀁐􀁖􀁓􀀁􀀴􀁊􀁅􀁆􀀁􀁐􀁇􀀁􀁕􀁉􀁆􀀁􀀧􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁆􀀁􀁴􀀁􀀸􀁊􀁏􀁕􀁆􀁓􀀁􀀓􀀑􀀒􀀓
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation Mission Statement:
Managing Oklahoma’s wildlife resources and
habitat to provide scientific, educational,
aesthetic, economic, and recreational benefits
for present and future generations of hunters,
anglers, and others who appreciate wildlife.
ODWC Landowner
Assistance Programs:
Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program
(WHIP); Technical Assistance Program
Doug Schoeling: . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 301-9945
Mike Sams: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 590-2584
Deer Management Assistance
Program (DMAP)
Jerry Shaw: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 301-6885
Oklahoma Wildscapes
Certification Program
Melynda Hickman: . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 424-0099
Streams Management
Fish Division:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 521-3721
Farm Pond Technical Assistance; Farm Pond
Fish Stocking Program
NW Region-John Stahl: . . . . . . . (580) 474-2668
SW Region-Larry Cofer: . . . . . . .(580) 529-2795
NE Region-Brent Gordon: . . . . . (918) 299-2334
EC Region-Jim Burroughs: . . . . .(918) 683-1031
SE Region-Don Groom: . . . . . . . .(918) 297-0153
SC Region-Matt Mauck: . . . . . . .(580) 924-4087
C Region-Keith Thomas: . . . . . ..(405) 325-7288
ODWC Contacts
Wildlife Division: . . . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 521-2739
Fisheries Division: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3721
Law Enforcement: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3719
Operation Game Thief: . . . . . .1 (800) 522-8039
Information & Education: . . . . . .(405) 521-3855
License Section: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3852
Web site: . . . . . . . . . . . .wildlifedepartment.com
Your Side of the Fence is published three
times a year for those enrolled in the
ODWC’s landowner assistance programs.
Articles may be reprinted with permission
from the editors:
Rachel Bradley. . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 522-3087
info@odwc.state.ok.us
or
Mike Sams: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 590-2584
mgsams@brightok.net
This program operates free from discrimination on the
basis of political or religious opinion or affiliation, race,
creed, color, gender, age, ancestry, marital status or
disability. A person who feels he or she may have been
discriminated against or would like further information
should write: Director, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152,
or Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of
Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Financial support for this publication was provided by
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act under Project
F10AF00171 , Area 24, Project 006 of the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Researchers will also attempt to identify how diets change with respect
to chick development.
A model will be developed at the end of this study to predict how
nest selection and chick survival will be influenced by invertebrate
abundance.
Aerial/Terrestrial Predator Influence on Usable Space: The impact of both
avian and mammalian predators will be evaluated through surveys
and perching site assessments. A model will be developed using these
surveys, predicting how potential raptor perch sites (including human
structures) and areas frequented by mammals (riparian areas, food
plots, etc.) may effect quail predation.
Aflatoxicosis: To better understand the potential effects of aflatoxins on
quail, seed sources (including both native and commercially-obtained
seed) will be evaluated for below-lethal concentrations. Additionally,
researchers hope to learn how feeders and supplemental feeding
strategies influence quail and quail predation.
The six-year study is anticipated to begin in 2012 and will continue
until summer 2017.
Project 2: Operation Idiopathic Decline
ODWC is also participating with the Rolling Plains Quail Research
Ranch in a second study, “Operation Idiopathic Decline.” The primary
goal of this project is to identify types and occurrences of infectious
diseases and parasites in western populations of bobwhite quail.
Disease research with respect to quail has been limited and little is
known about the prevalence or importance of specific diseases on the
population.
To assist with the operation, ODWC biologists will take biological
samples from ten Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA)in western Oklahoma.
Samples will be analyzed for assorted
diseases including quail fever, pox
and bronchitis, avian influenza virus
and West Nile virus. Other associated
studies will look at quail parasites and
bacterial and fungal pathogens. Each
WMA will be sampled twice a year for
three years.
By participating in each of these
studies, ODWC hopes to identify
which management practices will
benefit bobwhite quail and quail
hunters in western Oklahoma.
Doug Schoeling, ODWC biologist, ages
a bobwhite quail and examines for
parasites.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 3
have already observed benefits to their wildlife
population. Population numbers on their property have
notably increased due to the management activities
that were derived from their first WHIP plan. Some
of the habitat
improvement
projects
they have
incorporated
include:
installation
of firebreaks,
prescribed burn
rotations, native
tree planting
and native range
planting. Future habitat projects they plan to accomplish
are: more extensive native rangeland establishment,
enlarging lakes to improve water availability and
eradication of invasive weeds and non-native grasses.
Phil has taken special interest in live oak (Quercus
virginiana) introduction on their property because it is a
“low tannin” acorn producer. Live oak is part of
the white oak group and white oaks tend to produce
acorns with a lower amount of tannin than red oaks.
Since tannins make acorns taste bitter, it is believed
that wildlife prefer the white oak acorns to the red oak
acorns. Phil has also planted many other native white
oak and red oak species on his property to help maintain
diversity in wildlife forage. He has had notable success
with his native range plantings and the stands are now
several years old and have survived some of the harshest
Oklahoma weather. Most native range species are adapted
to fire and tend to flourish following a burn, which is
why prescribed burning is one of the most important
management tools for landowners.
Phil and Penny were chosen as this issues outstanding
landowners due to their hard work, dedication and
belief in the need for wildlife habitat management and
preservation of native flora and fauna.
Phil and Penny Colbaugh have
great memories of growing up
in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Phil is a
retired plant pathologist professor
and researcher from Texas A&M,
and Penny is a retired molecular
biology lecturer and researcher
from University of Texas, Dallas.
Phil and Penny own a 680-acre
tract of land in Hughes County, and with their passions
of botany and biology, they have accomplished many
significant wildlife habitat enhancements on their land
in eleven years of ownership.
One of their main goals is to “preserve the many
interesting native wildlife species on their property.”
The property itself is fairly diverse and provides land
elevation changes, rivers, lakes and wooded timber.
The diverse habitat accommodates an array of wildlife
species including: whitetail deer, northern bobwhite
quail, eastern wild turkey, songbirds, waterfowl and
more.
To assist in achieving their main goal, the Colbaugh’s
were awarded a contract with federal Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program (WHIP). The couple is currently
working on their second contract with the program; and
Landowner Spotlight
Passionate about natives: Landowners improve wildlife
habitat By RosaLee Walker, farm bill technician
Landowners Phil and Penny Colbaugh on their property in Hughes
County. Photo by Phil and Penny Colbaugh.
Deer feeding on the Colbaugh's property. Photo by
Phil and Penny Colbaugh.
􀀕􀀁 􀀺􀁐􀁖􀁓􀀁􀀴􀁊􀁅􀁆􀀁􀁐􀁇􀀁􀁕􀁉􀁆􀀁􀀧􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁆􀀁􀁴􀀁􀀸􀁊􀁏􀁕􀁆􀁓􀀁􀀓􀀑􀀒􀀓
Water Matters
Oklahoma is home to three
cattail species that hybridize
with each other: the broad-leaved,
the narrow-leaved and the Southern
cattail. The broad-leaved is the
most common cattail species. These
perennial herbs have always been
here and probably always will. They
are tough, hardy plants that stand up to many control
methods and withstand harsh drought conditions.
Landowners should take special care to prevent them
from overrunning a favorite pond or lake. Once
they’re in, you’ve got them for good.
There are good things and bad things about this plant.
Let’s start out discussing the good things. Insects and
spiders depend on them for cover and feeding. Several
bird species nest amongst their tall leaves. Beavers,
nutria and muskrats feed on them and use them for
constructing their dens. Certain minnow and sunfish
species use them for spawning cover. Several mollusks
live within their leaves and roots. Turtles and snakes
hide within the dense foliage. The pond itself benefits
from cattails when a stand, or group, of plants cover
the shoreline and act as wave break, lessening
erosion. Cattails also absorb excess phosphorus
and nitrogen from the soil and water. If you’re
Bear Grylls from the show “Man vs. Wild,” you can
always eat them because the plant shoots, young
seed and rhizomes are edible. The list could go on!
Although there are a plethora of positive aspects,
there are also negatives to having cattails.
They can severely reduce access to a body of water,
especially if you are trying to fish, swim or launch a
boat. The seeds from the flower make quite a mess
in and around the pond during the fall. Cattails will
overcrowd other, more beneficial plant species. If
your pond is shallow, they will engulf the entire
pond.
Cattails spread by seed and by rhizome. It has been
observed that a single plant can spread to cover a
10-foot circle in a single season. And finally, snakes,
snakes and more snakes! Need I say more?
To keep cattails out of your water sources or maintain
control of existing plants, try the following tips:
􀁴􀀁 Deepen pond shorelines. For every 3 feet out,
the depth should be at least 1 foot. This creates
approximately a 30 to 40 degree slope.
􀁴􀀁 Pull the leaves and tubers, or root, up by hand
when plants appear.
􀁴􀀁 Provide shade to limit sunlight by planting shade
trees near the pond.
􀁴􀀁 Once cattails appear in the pond, attack them
quickly. Don’t let them get a foothold.
􀁴􀀁 Apply an aquatic herbicide with the active
ingredient of glyphosate. Use a surfactant to make
sure the chemical sticks to the leaves. Spray them
before the brown “sausages” appear.
Protecting your pond: Cattails take over
By Keith Thomas, fisheries biologist, central region
New cattail stems rise up at the nodes along rhizome. Muskrat and geese eat the
rhizomes. Photo by Mike Sams.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 5
Your Side of the Fence is a FREE publication produced three times a year
by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for Oklahoma
landowners. It is our mission to provide practical information for managing
wildlife on your property and address issues that affect you, the landowner.
This is your opportunity to tell us what you think. What would you like
to learn more about? Do you have any questions for any of our ODWC
professionals? Are we doing a good job of providing useful, practical
information? Please let us know. If you would like, send your advice to the
editor.
Send to: YSOF Editor
P.O. Box 53465
OKC, OK 73152
Free Subscription to Your Side of the Fence
Name Email
Address
City State Zip
New Subscription Discontinue
Landowner News
Changes aim to increase State WHIP opportunities
By Mike Sams, private lands biologist
The Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation’s
(ODWC) State Wildlife Habitat
Improvement Program (sWHIP)
has become quite popular in
the past several years. Demand
has been so high that last year’s
application period was cancelled
because backlogged request
exceeded the annual budget for sWHIP. ODWC
budgets $50,000 each year in state money to go toward
sWHIP. Additional matching funds are typically
provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Partners Program. However, funding requests for
approved projects over the previous two application
periods have averaged nearly $248,000 annually.
One reason sWHIP has become so popular is the
cost-share rate for cedar control. The sWHIP has
been the best game in town when it comes to cost-share
for cutting cedar offering 75 percent cost-share
of the estimated cost. Other programs that provide
cost assistance for cedar control offer only 50 percent
cost-share of the estimated cost. As a consequence,
sWHIP inquiries have begun asking for the ‘cedar
control program,’ and cedar control has consumed
more than 75 percent of the financial request.
Cedar control is certainly a management practice
heavily prescribed by our biologists to improve
wildlife habitat; however, at its current cost-share
rate and frequency of request cedar control is
limiting the amount of landowners to which sWHIP
is able to provide assistance. In an effort to better
meet demand with supply, sWHIP will reduce the
allowable rate for cedar control to 50 percent cost-share
of the estimated cost during the 2012 contract
period. By reducing the rate of cost-share for cedar
control, ODWC hopes to provide more opportunities
for more landowners to participate in the sWHIP.
Other cost-shareable practices allowed under sWHIP
will remain at a 75 percent cost-share rate. It is
important to note the cost-share rate is based off of
the estimated cost reported on the plan, not the actual
landowner expenditures.
An additional change for sWHIP is a reduced cost-share
cap to $4,500 per landowner, per year. While
the reason for the cap reduction was primarily
administrative, it too will increase landowner
opportunities. continued on page 6...
􀀗􀀁 􀀺􀁐􀁖􀁓􀀁􀀴􀁊􀁅􀁆􀀁􀁐􀁇􀀁􀁕􀁉􀁆􀀁􀀧􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁆􀀁􀁴􀀁􀀸􀁊􀁏􀁕􀁆����􀀁􀀓􀀑􀀒􀀓
Landowner News Cont.
Also for administrative purposes, applications must now have an original signature. As such, we are no longer
able to accept faxed or copied applications. If you have and specific questions regarding the changes to sWHIP
you may contact me, Mike Sams, at mgsams@brightok.net or (405) 590-2584.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 7
disking by experimenting; disk one “test strip” every month
from October to March and record the outcome. If none of
the test strips produce desirable forbs or legumes, consider
over-seeding.
Disking Strategies
Before disking, create a plan. On your property map, mark
sensitive areas where disking should be avoided. Avoid
areas with Bermuda grass and areas adjacent to invasive
species. Indicate which stands of native grasses are most
dense, and focus disking efforts there. In especially rank
stands, consider mowing the strip one to two weeks prior
to disking. To get the most out of your disking efforts,
consider the following:
􀁴􀀁 Disk lightly: When disking in wildlife habitat,
remember the goal is to
incorporate no more than half
of the existing vegetation into
the soil. Because many forbs
favorably respond to a soil
disturbance as little as three
inches deep, a few light passes
with a tandem disk will suffice.
􀁴􀀁 Disk small strips:
Individual strips range from
15 to 30 feet wide and should
be separated by a minimum of
100 feet of un-disked habitat.
Plan to disk on a three-year
cycle—disking alternate strips
each year. Rotating disked strips will create a patch-work
arrangement with sufficient nesting cover, brood rearing
habitat and bare ground. Disking should be limited to areas
where native grasses are most dense.
􀁴􀀁 Location, Location: Use disking to complement
existing wildlife habitat for your species of interest. For
example, when disking for bobwhite quail, locate dense
woody cover and plan to disk within 50 feet of coverts.
􀁴􀀁 Avoid disking in straight lines; follow the natural
contour of the land to limit erosion.
Include these four strategies in your disking plan. Disking
light strips is a great way to improve brood-rearing habitat
and set back succession on your property while waiting on a
burn opportunity.
Tech Notes
Strip disking: Setting back succession
By Jena Donnell, quail habitat biologist
While the advantages of prescribed fire
are well known, other management tools
can serve as short-term substitutes when
faced with narrow burn windows. One
short-term alternative for prescribed
fire, strip disking, can mimic fire by
stimulating wildlife friendly forbs in the
seed bank and gradually reducing the
thatch layer.
Benefits of Disking
Strip disking is a great way to set back succession or
reduce the dominance of grasses. While native grass is
an important habitat component of wildlife habitat —
especially for ground nesting birds—mature stands often
have a limited amount of forbs and little bare ground.
Grass stands unmanaged for
three or more years are the best
candidates for strip disking.
In addition to reducing the
thatch layer, disking can improve
screening cover and brood
rearing habitat. Once forbs are
six to eight inches tall, the canopy
provides chicks cover from aerial
predators and shade. Recently
disked areas also serve as prime
brood-rearing habitat; the day
after bobwhite quail chicks hatch,
they are moved to areas with high
amounts of forbs, and as a general rule, insects. Newly
disturbed areas typically have increased insect abundance
and diversity when compared to dense stands of grass.
Timing is Key
A variety of factors influence how plants respond to
disking; including season of disturbance and the existing
seed bank. Disturbing the soil at different times of the
year changes the plant community. To encourage “wildlife
friendly” plants (plants that produce large quantities of
hard-coated seeds that slowly deteriorate), plan on disking
between October and March. Disking after March can
promote undesirable annual grasses, such as Johnson grass
and foxtail. Find out how your property responds to
Landowner strip disking his land. Photo by Missouri Dept. of
Conservation.
􀀙􀀁 􀀺􀁐􀁖􀁓􀀁􀀴􀁊􀁅􀁆􀀁􀁐􀁇􀀁􀁕􀁉􀁆􀀁􀀧􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁆􀀁􀁴􀀁􀀸􀁊􀁏􀁕􀁆􀁓􀀁􀀓􀀑􀀒􀀓
NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NORMAN, OK
PERMIT NO. 35
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
What’s Inside
Page 1 ODWC Invests in Bobwhite
Quail Research
Page 3 Passionate About Natives:
Landowners Improve Wildlife
Habitat
Page 4 Protecting Your Pond: Cattails
Take Over
Page 5 Changes Aim to Increase State
WHIP Opportunities
Page 7 Strip Disking: Setting Back
Succession
Your Side of the fence
Female bobwhite quail
captured during Operation
Idiopathic Decline research to
be released at Hackberry Flat
WMA. Photo by Jena Donnell.

Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 1
Project 1: Evaluation of Northern
Bobwhites in Western Oklahoma
ODWC has partnered with
Oklahoma State University’s
Department of Natural Resource
Ecology and Management and the
Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit to conduct
a long term study on Beaver River
and Packsaddle WMA’s. Research
will focus on the unaccounted
disappearance of birds during the
fall shuffle period, how to manage
early successional habitat to boost
chick survival, and how weather
influences reproductive success
and bobwhite survival in western
Oklahoma. The multi-part study
will revolve around four primary
approaches:
Habitat and Population Dynamics:
Adult quail and chicks will be fitted
with transmitters to determine
which factors affect habitat use,
production/recruitment and
survival of bobwhites during the
year. In addition to telemetry work,
habitat work will be monitored for
changes in the plant community
and biological information will be
collected from hunter-harvested
birds. Researchers hope to predict
quail population responses to
drought and evaluate the role of
temperature in nest initiation and
bobwhite survival.
Arthropod Availability and
Preference: Telemetry work from
the above-mentioned studies will
be used along with arthropod
sampling to determine how
nest location and chick survival
are linked
to insect
abundance.
Invertebrate
samples will
be taken from
areas quail
frequent,
known nesting
sites and
areas where
foraging is not
occurring.
Your Side of the fence Winter 2011 A Publication of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Volume 11, Number 3
Even with
the luxury
of managing
a species
researched for
over 80 years—
Herbert
Stoddard
wrote the book on bobwhite
quail in 1931—biologists still
face some uncertainty when
accounting for the fickleness of
quail populations. Ultimately,
assessments are based on
scientific research and hard-earned
experiences. However,
successful management is based
on equal parts skill, weather and
luck.
Though some aspects of quail
management are well-known —
populations change annually and
are influenced by weather events,
predation and widespread, often
subtle, habitat changes—the scale
at which these factors impact the
population and how they relate to
the range-wide decline are unclear.
In an effort to better understand
what drives quail populations,
the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation (ODWC)
teamed up with several partners
and has committed to two long-term
research projects in western
Oklahoma.
ODWC invests in bobwhite quail research
By Jena Donnell, quail habitat biologist
Continued on page 2...
Donnell removing a bobwhite quail from a trap at
Hackberry Flat WMA. Photo by Matt Fullerton.
Juvenile bobwhite quail
being released at Black
Kettle WMA after being
processed for weight,
gender, age and parasites.
OSU will study their diet.
Photo by Jena Donnell.
􀀓􀀁 􀀺􀁐􀁖􀁓􀀁􀀴􀁊􀁅􀁆􀀁􀁐􀁇􀀁􀁕􀁉􀁆􀀁􀀧􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁆􀀁􀁴􀀁􀀸􀁊􀁏􀁕􀁆􀁓􀀁􀀓􀀑􀀒􀀓
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation Mission Statement:
Managing Oklahoma’s wildlife resources and
habitat to provide scientific, educational,
aesthetic, economic, and recreational benefits
for present and future generations of hunters,
anglers, and others who appreciate wildlife.
ODWC Landowner
Assistance Programs:
Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program
(WHIP); Technical Assistance Program
Doug Schoeling: . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 301-9945
Mike Sams: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 590-2584
Deer Management Assistance
Program (DMAP)
Jerry Shaw: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 301-6885
Oklahoma Wildscapes
Certification Program
Melynda Hickman: . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 424-0099
Streams Management
Fish Division:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 521-3721
Farm Pond Technical Assistance; Farm Pond
Fish Stocking Program
NW Region-John Stahl: . . . . . . . (580) 474-2668
SW Region-Larry Cofer: . . . . . . .(580) 529-2795
NE Region-Brent Gordon: . . . . . (918) 299-2334
EC Region-Jim Burroughs: . . . . .(918) 683-1031
SE Region-Don Groom: . . . . . . . .(918) 297-0153
SC Region-Matt Mauck: . . . . . . .(580) 924-4087
C Region-Keith Thomas: . . . . . ..(405) 325-7288
ODWC Contacts
Wildlife Division: . . . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 521-2739
Fisheries Division: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3721
Law Enforcement: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3719
Operation Game Thief: . . . . . .1 (800) 522-8039
Information & Education: . . . . . .(405) 521-3855
License Section: . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 521-3852
Web site: . . . . . . . . . . . .wildlifedepartment.com
Your Side of the Fence is published three
times a year for those enrolled in the
ODWC’s landowner assistance programs.
Articles may be reprinted with permission
from the editors:
Rachel Bradley. . . . . . . . . . . .(405) 522-3087
info@odwc.state.ok.us
or
Mike Sams: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 590-2584
mgsams@brightok.net
This program operates free from discrimination on the
basis of political or religious opinion or affiliation, race,
creed, color, gender, age, ancestry, marital status or
disability. A person who feels he or she may have been
discriminated against or would like further information
should write: Director, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152,
or Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of
Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Financial support for this publication was provided by
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act under Project
F10AF00171 , Area 24, Project 006 of the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Researchers will also attempt to identify how diets change with respect
to chick development.
A model will be developed at the end of this study to predict how
nest selection and chick survival will be influenced by invertebrate
abundance.
Aerial/Terrestrial Predator Influence on Usable Space: The impact of both
avian and mammalian predators will be evaluated through surveys
and perching site assessments. A model will be developed using these
surveys, predicting how potential raptor perch sites (including human
structures) and areas frequented by mammals (riparian areas, food
plots, etc.) may effect quail predation.
Aflatoxicosis: To better understand the potential effects of aflatoxins on
quail, seed sources (including both native and commercially-obtained
seed) will be evaluated for below-lethal concentrations. Additionally,
researchers hope to learn how feeders and supplemental feeding
strategies influence quail and quail predation.
The six-year study is anticipated to begin in 2012 and will continue
until summer 2017.
Project 2: Operation Idiopathic Decline
ODWC is also participating with the Rolling Plains Quail Research
Ranch in a second study, “Operation Idiopathic Decline.” The primary
goal of this project is to identify types and occurrences of infectious
diseases and parasites in western populations of bobwhite quail.
Disease research with respect to quail has been limited and little is
known about the prevalence or importance of specific diseases on the
population.
To assist with the operation, ODWC biologists will take biological
samples from ten Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA)in western Oklahoma.
Samples will be analyzed for assorted
diseases including quail fever, pox
and bronchitis, avian influenza virus
and West Nile virus. Other associated
studies will look at quail parasites and
bacterial and fungal pathogens. Each
WMA will be sampled twice a year for
three years.
By participating in each of these
studies, ODWC hopes to identify
which management practices will
benefit bobwhite quail and quail
hunters in western Oklahoma.
Doug Schoeling, ODWC biologist, ages
a bobwhite quail and examines for
parasites.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 3
have already observed benefits to their wildlife
population. Population numbers on their property have
notably increased due to the management activities
that were derived from their first WHIP plan. Some
of the habitat
improvement
projects
they have
incorporated
include:
installation
of firebreaks,
prescribed burn
rotations, native
tree planting
and native range
planting. Future habitat projects they plan to accomplish
are: more extensive native rangeland establishment,
enlarging lakes to improve water availability and
eradication of invasive weeds and non-native grasses.
Phil has taken special interest in live oak (Quercus
virginiana) introduction on their property because it is a
“low tannin” acorn producer. Live oak is part of
the white oak group and white oaks tend to produce
acorns with a lower amount of tannin than red oaks.
Since tannins make acorns taste bitter, it is believed
that wildlife prefer the white oak acorns to the red oak
acorns. Phil has also planted many other native white
oak and red oak species on his property to help maintain
diversity in wildlife forage. He has had notable success
with his native range plantings and the stands are now
several years old and have survived some of the harshest
Oklahoma weather. Most native range species are adapted
to fire and tend to flourish following a burn, which is
why prescribed burning is one of the most important
management tools for landowners.
Phil and Penny were chosen as this issues outstanding
landowners due to their hard work, dedication and
belief in the need for wildlife habitat management and
preservation of native flora and fauna.
Phil and Penny Colbaugh have
great memories of growing up
in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Phil is a
retired plant pathologist professor
and researcher from Texas A&M,
and Penny is a retired molecular
biology lecturer and researcher
from University of Texas, Dallas.
Phil and Penny own a 680-acre
tract of land in Hughes County, and with their passions
of botany and biology, they have accomplished many
significant wildlife habitat enhancements on their land
in eleven years of ownership.
One of their main goals is to “preserve the many
interesting native wildlife species on their property.”
The property itself is fairly diverse and provides land
elevation changes, rivers, lakes and wooded timber.
The diverse habitat accommodates an array of wildlife
species including: whitetail deer, northern bobwhite
quail, eastern wild turkey, songbirds, waterfowl and
more.
To assist in achieving their main goal, the Colbaugh’s
were awarded a contract with federal Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program (WHIP). The couple is currently
working on their second contract with the program; and
Landowner Spotlight
Passionate about natives: Landowners improve wildlife
habitat By RosaLee Walker, farm bill technician
Landowners Phil and Penny Colbaugh on their property in Hughes
County. Photo by Phil and Penny Colbaugh.
Deer feeding on the Colbaugh's property. Photo by
Phil and Penny Colbaugh.
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Water Matters
Oklahoma is home to three
cattail species that hybridize
with each other: the broad-leaved,
the narrow-leaved and the Southern
cattail. The broad-leaved is the
most common cattail species. These
perennial herbs have always been
here and probably always will. They
are tough, hardy plants that stand up to many control
methods and withstand harsh drought conditions.
Landowners should take special care to prevent them
from overrunning a favorite pond or lake. Once
they’re in, you’ve got them for good.
There are good things and bad things about this plant.
Let’s start out discussing the good things. Insects and
spiders depend on them for cover and feeding. Several
bird species nest amongst their tall leaves. Beavers,
nutria and muskrats feed on them and use them for
constructing their dens. Certain minnow and sunfish
species use them for spawning cover. Several mollusks
live within their leaves and roots. Turtles and snakes
hide within the dense foliage. The pond itself benefits
from cattails when a stand, or group, of plants cover
the shoreline and act as wave break, lessening
erosion. Cattails also absorb excess phosphorus
and nitrogen from the soil and water. If you’re
Bear Grylls from the show “Man vs. Wild,” you can
always eat them because the plant shoots, young
seed and rhizomes are edible. The list could go on!
Although there are a plethora of positive aspects,
there are also negatives to having cattails.
They can severely reduce access to a body of water,
especially if you are trying to fish, swim or launch a
boat. The seeds from the flower make quite a mess
in and around the pond during the fall. Cattails will
overcrowd other, more beneficial plant species. If
your pond is shallow, they will engulf the entire
pond.
Cattails spread by seed and by rhizome. It has been
observed that a single plant can spread to cover a
10-foot circle in a single season. And finally, snakes,
snakes and more snakes! Need I say more?
To keep cattails out of your water sources or maintain
control of existing plants, try the following tips:
􀁴􀀁 Deepen pond shorelines. For every 3 feet out,
the depth should be at least 1 foot. This creates
approximately a 30 to 40 degree slope.
􀁴􀀁 Pull the leaves and tubers, or root, up by hand
when plants appear.
􀁴􀀁 Provide shade to limit sunlight by planting shade
trees near the pond.
􀁴􀀁 Once cattails appear in the pond, attack them
quickly. Don’t let them get a foothold.
􀁴􀀁 Apply an aquatic herbicide with the active
ingredient of glyphosate. Use a surfactant to make
sure the chemical sticks to the leaves. Spray them
before the brown “sausages” appear.
Protecting your pond: Cattails take over
By Keith Thomas, fisheries biologist, central region
New cattail stems rise up at the nodes along rhizome. Muskrat and geese eat the
rhizomes. Photo by Mike Sams.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 5
Your Side of the Fence is a FREE publication produced three times a year
by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for Oklahoma
landowners. It is our mission to provide practical information for managing
wildlife on your property and address issues that affect you, the landowner.
This is your opportunity to tell us what you think. What would you like
to learn more about? Do you have any questions for any of our ODWC
professionals? Are we doing a good job of providing useful, practical
information? Please let us know. If you would like, send your advice to the
editor.
Send to: YSOF Editor
P.O. Box 53465
OKC, OK 73152
Free Subscription to Your Side of the Fence
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Address
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Landowner News
Changes aim to increase State WHIP opportunities
By Mike Sams, private lands biologist
The Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation’s
(ODWC) State Wildlife Habitat
Improvement Program (sWHIP)
has become quite popular in
the past several years. Demand
has been so high that last year’s
application period was cancelled
because backlogged request
exceeded the annual budget for sWHIP. ODWC
budgets $50,000 each year in state money to go toward
sWHIP. Additional matching funds are typically
provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Partners Program. However, funding requests for
approved projects over the previous two application
periods have averaged nearly $248,000 annually.
One reason sWHIP has become so popular is the
cost-share rate for cedar control. The sWHIP has
been the best game in town when it comes to cost-share
for cutting cedar offering 75 percent cost-share
of the estimated cost. Other programs that provide
cost assistance for cedar control offer only 50 percent
cost-share of the estimated cost. As a consequence,
sWHIP inquiries have begun asking for the ‘cedar
control program,’ and cedar control has consumed
more than 75 percent of the financial request.
Cedar control is certainly a management practice
heavily prescribed by our biologists to improve
wildlife habitat; however, at its current cost-share
rate and frequency of request cedar control is
limiting the amount of landowners to which sWHIP
is able to provide assistance. In an effort to better
meet demand with supply, sWHIP will reduce the
allowable rate for cedar control to 50 percent cost-share
of the estimated cost during the 2012 contract
period. By reducing the rate of cost-share for cedar
control, ODWC hopes to provide more opportunities
for more landowners to participate in the sWHIP.
Other cost-shareable practices allowed under sWHIP
will remain at a 75 percent cost-share rate. It is
important to note the cost-share rate is based off of
the estimated cost reported on the plan, not the actual
landowner expenditures.
An additional change for sWHIP is a reduced cost-share
cap to $4,500 per landowner, per year. While
the reason for the cap reduction was primarily
administrative, it too will increase landowner
opportunities. continued on page 6...
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Landowner News Cont.
Also for administrative purposes, applications must now have an original signature. As such, we are no longer
able to accept faxed or copied applications. If you have and specific questions regarding the changes to sWHIP
you may contact me, Mike Sams, at mgsams@brightok.net or (405) 590-2584.
Promoting Wildlife and Fisheries Management on Private Lands 7
disking by experimenting; disk one “test strip” every month
from October to March and record the outcome. If none of
the test strips produce desirable forbs or legumes, consider
over-seeding.
Disking Strategies
Before disking, create a plan. On your property map, mark
sensitive areas where disking should be avoided. Avoid
areas with Bermuda grass and areas adjacent to invasive
species. Indicate which stands of native grasses are most
dense, and focus disking efforts there. In especially rank
stands, consider mowing the strip one to two weeks prior
to disking. To get the most out of your disking efforts,
consider the following:
􀁴􀀁 Disk lightly: When disking in wildlife habitat,
remember the goal is to
incorporate no more than half
of the existing vegetation into
the soil. Because many forbs
favorably respond to a soil
disturbance as little as three
inches deep, a few light passes
with a tandem disk will suffice.
􀁴􀀁 Disk small strips:
Individual strips range from
15 to 30 feet wide and should
be separated by a minimum of
100 feet of un-disked habitat.
Plan to disk on a three-year
cycle—disking alternate strips
each year. Rotating disked strips will create a patch-work
arrangement with sufficient nesting cover, brood rearing
habitat and bare ground. Disking should be limited to areas
where native grasses are most dense.
􀁴􀀁 Location, Location: Use disking to complement
existing wildlife habitat for your species of interest. For
example, when disking for bobwhite quail, locate dense
woody cover and plan to disk within 50 feet of coverts.
􀁴􀀁 Avoid disking in straight lines; follow the natural
contour of the land to limit erosion.
Include these four strategies in your disking plan. Disking
light strips is a great way to improve brood-rearing habitat
and set back succession on your property while waiting on a
burn opportunity.
Tech Notes
Strip disking: Setting back succession
By Jena Donnell, quail habitat biologist
While the advantages of prescribed fire
are well known, other management tools
can serve as short-term substitutes when
faced with narrow burn windows. One
short-term alternative for prescribed
fire, strip disking, can mimic fire by
stimulating wildlife friendly forbs in the
seed bank and gradually reducing the
thatch layer.
Benefits of Disking
Strip disking is a great way to set back succession or
reduce the dominance of grasses. While native grass is
an important habitat component of wildlife habitat —
especially for ground nesting birds—mature stands often
have a limited amount of forbs and little bare ground.
Grass stands unmanaged for
three or more years are the best
candidates for strip disking.
In addition to reducing the
thatch layer, disking can improve
screening cover and brood
rearing habitat. Once forbs are
six to eight inches tall, the canopy
provides chicks cover from aerial
predators and shade. Recently
disked areas also serve as prime
brood-rearing habitat; the day
after bobwhite quail chicks hatch,
they are moved to areas with high
amounts of forbs, and as a general rule, insects. Newly
disturbed areas typically have increased insect abundance
and diversity when compared to dense stands of grass.
Timing is Key
A variety of factors influence how plants respond to
disking; including season of disturbance and the existing
seed bank. Disturbing the soil at different times of the
year changes the plant community. To encourage “wildlife
friendly” plants (plants that produce large quantities of
hard-coated seeds that slowly deteriorate), plan on disking
between October and March. Disking after March can
promote undesirable annual grasses, such as Johnson grass
and foxtail. Find out how your property responds to
Landowner strip disking his land. Photo by Missouri Dept. of
Conservation.
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NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NORMAN, OK
PERMIT NO. 35
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
P.O. Box 53465
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
What’s Inside
Page 1 ODWC Invests in Bobwhite
Quail Research
Page 3 Passionate About Natives:
Landowners Improve Wildlife
Habitat
Page 4 Protecting Your Pond: Cattails
Take Over
Page 5 Changes Aim to Increase State
WHIP Opportunities
Page 7 Strip Disking: Setting Back
Succession
Your Side of the fence
Female bobwhite quail
captured during Operation
Idiopathic Decline research to
be released at Hackberry Flat
WMA. Photo by Jena Donnell.